Quick connection and method for uncoupling the male and female elements of such a connection

ABSTRACT

This connection comprises two elements, male and female, adapted to fit axially in each other, the body of the female element being equipped with a lock mounted to slide and pierced with at least one opening for the fit of the male element. The wall of this opening is equipped with at least one element in relief adapted to cooperate with a corresponding element in relief of the male element in order to retain these elements in fitted configuration. The lock is in two parts and comprises a first part on which may be exerted, from outside the body, an effort of displacement, as well as a second part mobile with respect to the first part and bearing the aforementioned element in relief. A safety member is adapted to block the first part against the effort of displacement, without preventing the displacement of the element in relief with respect to the first part of the connection. The male and female elements may be uncoupled by exerting an additional effort of fit, then by exerting an effort of penetration of a part of the lock in the body and by withdrawing the male element from the female element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a quick connection for removablyjoining two pipes through which a fluid flows, as well as to a processfor uncoupling the male and female elements of such a connection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

French Patent FR 2 514 855 discloses a quick connection which comprisestwo elements, male and female, adapted to fit axially, provoking theopening of a valve mounted in the body of the female element, this bodybeing equipped with a loaded lock, mounted to slide in this body andpierced with a central opening for the fit of the male element. The wallof the opening of the lock presents teeth offset with respect to oneanother along a median axis of this opening, while the male element isprovided with a shoulder adapted to rest selectively against one or theother of these teeth. When the connection is in passing configuration, afirst tooth of the lock maintains the male element in place in thefemale element.

This conventional arrangement is satisfactory from the standpoint ofrobustness and reliability.

However, this connection risks being opened accidentally, particularlyunder the effect of a shock or a bump against an obstacle. In effect,the quick connection elements are generally mounted at the end offlexible pipes and may be subjected to different stresses orinteractions from their environment which might cause an untimelyopening of the connection.

In certain applications, such an untimely opening is prohibitive insofaras it may lead to the interruption of the supply of a member consuming afluid. In particular, such is the case of the connections used in thesystems supplying breathable air to an operator wearing a protectivesuit in a hostile or polluted environment.

It is a more particular object of the invention to overcome thesedrawbacks by proposing a quick connection which does not risk beinguncoupled accidentally and which, on the contrary, requires a consciousmaneuver by the operator, such maneuver being, moreover, easy andintuitive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this spirit, the invention relates to a quick connection forremovably joining two pipes through which a fluid flows, this connectioncomprising two elements, male and female, adapted to fit axially in eachother, the body of the female element being equipped with a lock mountedto slide in this body and pierced with at least one opening for the fitof the male element, the wall of this opening itself being equipped withat least one element in relief adapted to cooperate with a correspondingelement in relief of the male element in order to retain theaforementioned elements in fitted configuration. This connection ischaracterized in that the lock is in two parts and comprises a firstpart on which may be exerted, from outside the body of the femaleelement, an effort of displacement, as well as a second part, mobilewith respect to the first and bearing the element in relief, while asafety member is adapted to block the first part against the effort ofdisplacement without preventing the displacement of the element inrelief with respect to the first part.

Thanks to the invention, the safety member may prevent an untimelyabutment on the first part of the lock from resulting in an accidentalrelease of the male element with respect to the female element.Furthermore, the fact that the movements of the element in relief remainpossible, even when the first part of the connection is locked by thesafety member, renders this lock compatible with the fitting of the maleelement in the female element.

The invention also relates to a process for uncoupling the male andfemale elements of a quick connection which may be carried out with aconnection as described hereinabove. This process is characterized inthat it comprises steps consisting in:

-   -   exerting an additional effort of fit of the male and female        elements in each other, then    -   exerting on a part of the lock an effort of penetration in the        body, and    -   withdrawing the male element from the female element by a        movement in the direction of fit of the aforementioned elements.

Such a process is easy to carry out by an operator, while it does notrisk being implemented accidentally, under the effect of a shock, arelative rotation of the male and female elements, or even a manualpressure on the lock by distraction.

Finally, the invention relates to a connection adapted to be maneuveredin accordance with the above process and in which the male and femaleelements are adapted to be uncoupled, after having been fitted in eachother, by exerting an additional effort of fit of the male and femaleelements in each other, then by exerting on a part of the lockaccessible from outside the body an effort of penetration of this partin this body and by withdrawing the male element from the female elementby a movement parallel to the direction of fit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood and other advantagesthereof will be more clearly apparent on reading the followingdescription of two forms of embodiment of a connection in accordancewith its principle and of its method of use, given solely by way ofexample and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a female element of a quickconnection according to a first form of embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section similar to FIG. 1 while the male element of thequick connection is being introduced in the female element.

FIG. 3 is a section on a larger scale of the male and female elements incoupled configuration.

FIG. 3A is a view on a larger scale of detail A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a section along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, but on the scale ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a section along line V-V in FIG. 3, but on the scale of FIGS.1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a section similar to FIG. 2, during a first step of theuncoupling of the male and female elements.

FIG. 7 is a section similar to FIG. 6, during a second step of theuncoupling.

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of the two parts constituting the lockof the connection of FIGS. 1 to 7.

FIG. 9 is a section similar to FIG. 1 for a connection in accordancewith a second form of embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a section similar to FIG. 2 for the connection of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a section on a larger scale of the male and female elementsof the connection of FIGS. 9 and 10 in fitted configuration.

FIG. 12 is a section similar to FIG. 10 during a first step of theuncoupling of the male and female elements.

FIG. 12A is a view on a larger scale of detail A in FIG. 12, and FIG. 13is a section similar to FIG. 12 during a second step of the uncoupling.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, the connection shown in FIGS. 1 to 7comprises a female element A and a male element or connector Brespectively connected to an upstream pipe C₁ and to a downstream pipeC₂. The upstream pipe is, itself, connected to a source of fluid underpressure (not shown), for example a source of air under pressure, pipeC₂ itself being connected, for example, to a breathing apparatus of aprotective suit.

The external shape of the body 1 of the female element is substantiallycylindrical with circular base, centred on an axis X-X′ which is alsothe longitudinal axis of a conduit 11 inside the body 1 and in which isdisposed a valve 2 mobile along axis X-X′.

The valve 2 is subjected to the action of a return spring 3 which exertsan effort F₁ tending to apply a head 21 of the valve 2 provided with anO-ring 22 against a tight bearing seat 12 formed by the body 1. Thevalve 2 is provided with an outer radial flange 23 against which thespring 3 comes into abutment.

The body 1 is also provided with a blind housing 13 extendingsubstantially in the direction of an axis Y-Y′ perpendicular to axisX-X′, i.e. radial with respect to the body 1. Inside the blind housing13 there is slidably mounted a lock 4 on which a spring 5 exerts anelastic effort F₂ directed opposite the bottom 131 of the housing 13,i.e. in the direction of its opening 132.

The lock 4 is in two parts, in that it is constituted by a first part,or outer part 41 and by a second part, or inner part 42, this inner partbeing received in a recessed housing 43 opening out both in thedirection of the bottom 131 of the blind housing 13 and in the directionof the opening 14 of the body 1 through which the body 101 of the maleconnector B may be introduced.

Outer part 41 also defines a substantially circular opening 44 which isadjacent the recessed housing 43.

Inner part 42 is provided with a central opening 45 which is bordered byan element in relief 46 intended to constitute an element in relief or atooth 46 for stopping a flange 106 provided on the periphery of the body101 of the male element B.

In the absence of interactions with the element B, the inner part 42 ofthe lock 4 is applied by the spring 5 against the bottom 431 of therecessed housing 43.

A surface 47 of the outer part 41 is accessible via the opening 132 ofthe blind housing 13, i.e. the surface on which a user may exert aneffort of displacement F₃ of the lock 4 in the direction of the bottom131 of the blind housing 13, as shown in FIG. 7.

A safety member 6 in the form of a piston is provided in the body 1 andis elastically loaded by a spring 7 in the direction of the opening 14.This piston 6 is symmetrical of revolution about axis X-X′ and comprisesan outer radial flange 61 intended to come into abutment against aninner shoulder 15 of the body 1, in order to limit the movement of thepiston 6 in the direction of the opening 14. From the outer radialflange 61 and in the direction of the opening 14, the piston 6 comprisestwo cylindrical surfaces 62 and 63 with rectilinear generatrices andcircular bases, the radius R₆₂ of the surface 62 being greater than theradius R₆₃ of the surface 63.

An end part 64 of the safety member 6 is surrounded by the surface 62.An intermediate part 65 of the safety member 6 is surrounded by thesurface 63.

Part 65 is introduced in the opening 44 of the lock 4, with the resultthat the part of its surface 63 located between axis X-X′ and the bottom131 of the blind housing 13 constitutes a stop surface opposite themovements of the lock 4 toward the outside of the blind housing 13 underthe effect of the effort F₂. In effect, the effort F₂ exerted by thespring 5 on the inner part 42 is transmitted to the outer part 41 in theform of an effort F′₂ transmitted to the level of the bottom 431 of therecessed housing 43, this effort F′₂ itself being transmitted in theform of an effort F″₂ to the interface between the surface 63 and thecircular surface 441 delimiting the opening 44.

Furthermore, the surface 62 receives in abutment a surface 48 of theouter part 41 which is opposite the surface 47, with the result that theend part 64 constitutes a stop to an effort of penetration of the lock 4against the effort F₂.

In this way, in the configuration of FIGS. 1 to 5, the piston 6 preventsan untimely penetration of the outer part 41 of the lock 4 inside theblind housing 13.

On the other hand, and as is apparent from FIGS. 2 to 5, this piston 6does not oppose a coupling of the male and female elements in thedirection X-X′. In effect, when the male element B is fitted in thefemale element A, the truncated surface 107, defining the flange 106toward the front end 108 of the body 101, forms a bearing ramp adaptedto cooperate with the inclined surface 461 defining the element inrelief 46 toward the opening 451 of the central opening 45. When aneffort F₄ of fit of the male element B in the female element A isexerted, the surfaces 107 and 461 slide over each other, this having theeffect of exerting on the inner part 42 of the lock 4 an effort F₅pushing this part against the effort F₂, as shown in FIG. 2. This leadsto a movement of the inner part 42 in the recessed housing 43 in thedirection of the bottom 131, while the outer part 41 of the lock 4remains immobile with respect to the body 1.

When the flange 106 has passed beyond the element in relief 46, thespring 5 pushes, by its effort F₂, the inner part 42 in the direction ofthe bottom 431 of the recessed housing 43. The configuration of FIGS. 3to 5 is then attained, in which the male and female elements areefficiently retained in coupled configuration.

Due to the introduction of the body 101 in the body 1, the front end 108has pushed the valve 2 against the effort F₁ and the connection allows aflow of fluid from pipe C, towards pipe C₂, as represented by arrows E.

From this configuration, if an accidental effort F₆ is exerted on thesurface 47, this effort is balanced by an effort of reaction F₇ due tothe end part 64 of the safety member 6, with the result that the maleand female elements do not risk being uncoupled. The same applies in thecase of relative rotation of the male and female elements about axisX-X.

When the male and female elements are to be uncoupled, it suffices forthe user to exert a new effort F₈ on the body 101, this effort F₈ beingdirected parallel to axis X-X′ and in the direction of the body 1, asshown in FIG. 6. Insofar as, in the configuration of FIGS. 3 to 5, thetruncated surface 107 is in abutment against an internal truncatedsurface 66 of the intermediate part 65, the effort F₈ is transmitted tothe piston 6 in the form of an effort F′₈ which has the effect ofpushing the piston 6 against the elastic effort F₉ generated by thespring 7. In other words, the effort F₈ transmitted to the piston 6 hasthe effect of passing this member from the configuration of FIGS. 3 to 5to that of FIGS. 6 and 7 in which the end part 64 is pushed outside theblind housing 13, to such a point that it is no longer opposite thesurface 43 and it no longer opposes the displacement of the outer part41 under the effect of an effort F₃ exerted on the surface 47, asindicated previously.

The member or piston 6 is therefore mobile between the position of FIGS.1 to 5, where it opposes a penetration of the outer part 41 in thedirection of the bottom 131 of the blind housing 13, and theconfiguration of FIGS. 6 and 7, where it does not oppose such amovement.

Due to the penetration of the outer part 41 in the blind housing 13, theinner part 42 is also displaced in the direction of the bottom 131,which has the effect of disengaging the element in relief 46 withrespect to the flange 106 of the body 101, the body 101 in that casebeing able to be easily withdrawn from the body 1 by an effort F₁₀exerted parallel to the axis X-X′ and in a direction opposite the effortF₈.

During a first step of uncoupling the female and male elements, A and B,respectively, the intermediate part 65 of the piston 6 remains engagedin the opening 44, with the result that the surface 63 efficientlyretains the outer part 41 in the blind housing 13 when the user releaseshis/her effort F₃ and thus, even if the spring 5 pushes the lock 4toward the opening 132.

The blind housing 13 is provided with a stop 133 which is oblique withrespect to the axes X-X′ and Y-Y′, while the inner part 42 is providedwith a bevel 423 likewise oblique with respect to these axes. In theconfiguration of FIGS. 3 to 5, the efforts F₁ and F₉ respectivelyexerted by the springs 3 and 7 have the effect of pushing the body 101of the male connector B in the direction of the opening 14, with theresult that the flange 106 firmly applies the inner part 42 against thepart 134 of the surface of the blind housing 13 closest to the opening14.

If, due to friction efforts which are produced during a relativerotation of the male and female elements, the inner part 42 tends to bepushed against the effort F₂, the bevel 423 comes into abutment againstthe stop 133, thus limiting the displacement of the inner part 42 in thedirection of the bottom 131 of the blind housing 13. In this way, theelement in relief or tooth 46 does not risk being accidentally“retracted” with respect to the flange 106.

When it is desired effectively to uncouple the male and female elements,the effort F₃ exerted on the surface 47 is sufficient to cause the innerpart 42 to slide against the surface 134 and against the stop 133,having overcome the efforts F₁ and F₉. In other words, the obliquenature of the stop 133 then makes it possible to cause this stop to passto the inner part 42 when the male and female elements are to beunlocked.

A connection according to the invention does not necessarily comprise ahousing similar to that shown with recessed housing 43. In effect, outerand inner parts 41 and 42, respectively, may both be guided in the blindhousing 13 independently of each other.

The invention has been shown with a lock of which the second part 42 is“internal” with respect to its first part 41 which is “external” andwhich defines the recessed housing 43. However, it is applicable withother configurations of these parts.

In addition, the invention is not limited to the cases where, as in theexample shown, the second part 42 is mobile in the recessed housing 43in translation parallel to the direction Y-Y′ of slide of the lock. Itis applicable with a second part mobile with respect to the first, intranslation in an oblique direction or pivoting.

In practice, the invention is applicable in all cases where the lock,locked by default, bears a hooking tooth provided on the second partwhich remains displaceable by the male connector downwardly in FIGS. 1to 4, while the first part is blocked.

In the second form of embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 9 to13, elements similar to those of the first embodiment bear identicalreferences increased by 500.

The connection of this embodiment comprises a female element A and amale element or connector B each connected to a pipe C₁ or C₂ as in thefirst embodiment. The body 501 of the female element is centred on anaxis X-X′ which is also the longitudinal axis of a conduit 511 insidethe body 501 and in which is disposed a valve 502 mobile along thisaxis. A spring 503 exerts an elastic effort F₁ for loading the valve 502towards its position of closure, in abutment against a seat 512 of thebody 501.

The body 501 is also provided with a blind housing 513 which extendssubstantially along an axis Y-Y′, radial with respect to axis X-X′ andin which is disposed a first part 541 of a lock 504, this part beingsubjected to an elastic effort F₂ exerted by a spring 505 in abutment onthe bottom 631 of the blind housing 513.

The lock 504 also comprises a second part 542 formed by a ring mobileparallel to axis X-X′ and provided with a plurality of orifices 5421passing radially therethrough and in each of which a ball 546 isdisposed.

Toward the central opening of the second part or ring 542, the orifices5421 present a diameter reduced by a peripheral lip 5421 a, thisdiameter being less than that of the balls 546, which makes it possibleto retain the balls in the orifices 5421 which act as housing.

In order to allow slide of the part 542, the blind housing 513 extendsaround the conduit 511 in the form of an annular recess 513 a, blind andcentred on axis X-X′ in which is disposed a spring 507 which exerts onan end heel 5422 of the ring 542 an effort F₉ tending to push this ring542 in the direction of the opening 514 of the female element A.

The body 501 forms a sleeve 516 for guiding in translation whichsurrounds that portion of the second part 542 which is not engaged inthe recess 513 a. The sleeve 516 is circular and provided with an innerperipheral groove 517 located at a non-zero distance d from the freeedge of the sleeve 516. Under the effect of the effort F₉, the secondpart 542 is positioned so that the orifices 5421 are opposite thatportion of the sleeve 516 of width d which is located between the edge5423 and the groove 517. In this way, taking into account the internaldiameter of the sleeve 516 and the external diameter of the second part542, the balls 546 are blocked, by the sleeve 516 and inside theorifices 5421, in a configuration where they project radially towardaxis X-X′ in the central opening 545.

The sleeve 516 also forms a stop to the displacement of the first part541 under the effect of the effort F₂ as the first part 541 comes intoabutment, by a portion 5411, against the outer radial surface of thesleeve 516 closest to the bottom 631 of the blind housing 513.

The balls 546 are intended to immobilize the male connector B byengaging in an element of relief or a groove 606 made on the outersurface of the body 601 of this element.

The second Part 542 is radially engaged inside the first part 541. Moreprecisely, the second part 542 may slide parallel to axis X-X′ in thecentral interior volume 543 of the first part 541 which is open on thesleeve 516 side.

The portion 506 denotes the portion of the ring 542 located between theorifices 5421 and the edge 5423 of the second part 542 closest to theopening 514.

Under the effect of the effort F₉, the portion 506 is disposed oppositea portion 5412 of the first part 541 of relatively large thickness e₁,while the sleeve 516 is disposed opposite a portion 5413 of the firstpart 541 of thickness e₂ whose value is less than that of the thicknesse₁.

In the configuration of FIG. 11, if an effort F₆ is exerted on thesurface 547 of the lock 504 accessible from outside the body 501, aneffort of reaction F₇ is exerted in return by the portion 506, thuspreventing the penetration of the first part 541 in the direction of thebottom 631 of the blind housing 513. The portion 506 thereforeconstitutes a safety member blocking the penetration of the first part541 in the blind housing 513.

An element or relief or a flange 607 is an outer radial flange of thebody 601 located between the groove 606 and the front end 608 of thisbody.

When elements A and B are being fitted, the body 601 is displaced in thedirection of the rear of the body 501 and of the pipe C₁, to such apoint that the flange 607 abuts against the balls 546 which project inthe opening 545. By continuing the movement of fit in the direction ofarrow F₄ in FIG. 10, the balls 546 and the second part 542 of the lock504 are pushed until the balls 546 are located opposite the groove 517,this allowing their partial radial ejection from the orifices 5421, asrepresented by arrows F₅ in FIG. 10, allowing the passage of the flange607 at the level of the balls 546.

When the flange 607 has gone beyond the balls 546, the effort F₉ exertedby the spring 507 pushes the second part 542 of the lock 504 toward theopening 514, this offsetting the orifices 5421 of the groove 517,maintaining the balls 546 engaged in the groove 606, and guaranteeingthe coupling in the configuration of FIG. 11.

If, in this configuration shown in FIG. 11, an effort F₆ is exerted onthe surface 547 of the first part 541 accessible from outside the blindhousing 513, the portion 5412 of the first part 541 bears against theportion 506 and the induced reaction effort F₇ opposes the penetrationof the first part 541 of the lock 504 in the blind housing 513. In thisway, any accidental uncoupling may be avoided.

When the male and female elements are to be uncoupled, an additionaleffort of fit F₈ parallel to axis X-X′ and directed toward the rear ofthe body 501 is exerted on the body 601, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 12A.The side 607 a of the flange 607 which faces the end 608 then comes intoabutment against an internal truncated surface 5424 of the second part542. The side 607 a is also truncated and its geometry is substantiallycomplementary of the surface 5424, which allows a surface abutment ofthe flange 607 against the part second 542. The effort F₈ is thustransmitted, in the form of an effort F′₈ distributed about axis X-X′,to the second part 542 which is pushed against the effort F₉.

Under the effect of effort F′₈, the second part 542 is pushed toward therear of the body 501, in the configuration of FIGS. 11, 12, and 12A,where the orifices 5421 and the balls 546 are substantially opposite thegroove 517.

In this configuration, it is possible to exert on the surface 547 aneffort F₃ directed toward the bottom 631 and which has the effect ofdisplacing the portion 5412 of the first part 541 to a configurationwhere an inner shoulder 5414, formed on the first part 541 at thetransition between the parts 5412 and 5413, forms a stop to the movementof the second part 542 in the direction of the opening 514 under theeffect of the effort F₉. The edge 5423 then comes into abutment againstthe shoulder 5414.

In other words, once the balls 546 have been brought opposite the groove517, it is possible, by displacing the first part 541 of the lock 504toward the bottom of the blind housing 513, to maintain the second partor ring 542 in the corresponding position, thus allowing the bails 546to be displaced radially toward the outside of the orifices 5421, beingdriven from the opening 545. It is then possible to exert on the body601 an effort F₁₀, of direction opposite the effort F₈, this effortinducing the withdrawal of the male connector by partial radial ejectionof the balls 546 in the groove 517, as represented by arrows F₅.

In this way, the connection of this second form of embodiment may bemanipulated in intuitive and secure manner, like that of the firstembodiment.

This connection presents the particular advantage that the effort ofretaining the male and female elements in coupled configuration isdistributed about the male connector B due to the eight balls 546 beingregularly distributed about axis X-X′. The invention may function with avariable number of balls, the number of balls being easily determined bythe person skilled in the art.

The dimensions of the parts constituting the connections shown areadapted to the desired functions, in particular of guiding and blocking,which the person skilled in the art can readily imagine. For example,the external diameters of the elements 607 and 542 are thus slightlyless than the internal diameters of the elements 545 and 516.

In order to render the drawings clearer, the invention has been shownwith a body 1 or 501 of a female element in one piece. It is obviousthat this body may be formed of a plurality of parts, particularly inorder to allow elements 2, 3, 41, 42, 5, 6 and 7 of the first embodimentand the corresponding elements of the second embodiment, to be placed inposition.

1. A quick connection for removably joining two pipes through which a fluid flows, said connection comprising a male element and a female element adapted to fit axially in each other, a body of said female element being equipped with a lock mounted to slide in said body and having at least one opening into which said male element is received, said lock being in two parts and including a first part on which may be exerted, from outside said body, a force of displacement, and a second part movable with respect to said first part, at least one ball element mounted within at least one orifice through a wall of said second part, said at least one ball element cooperates with a groove disposed on said male element to retain said male and female elements in fitted configuration, and a safety portion of said second part being adapted to block said first part against said force of displacement without preventing a displacement of said at least one ball element with respect to said first part.
 2. The connection of claim 1, further comprising a means for elastically loading said safety portion of said second part toward a position in which said safety portion blocks said first part.
 3. The connection of claim 1, wherein said lock is in a housing in which said first part slides, against an elastic return means, in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of fit of said male and female elements, while said second part slides in said housing in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of fit.
 4. The connection of claim 1, wherein said first part defines a housing in which said second part is disposed, said housing being open opposite an outer actuation surface of said first part.
 5. The connection of claim 1, wherein said safety portion is moveable in a direction parallel to a direction of fit of said male and female elements between a first position wherein said safety portion blocks said first part and a second position wherein said safety portion does not oppose the movement of said at least one ball element under the effect of the force of displacement.
 6. The connection of claim 5, wherein said safety portion is adapted to be displaced from a first toward a second position by said male element.
 7. The connection of claim 6, wherein said safety portion is adapted to pass from the first to the second position under an effect of an additional fit of said male element in said female element, from a configuration where said elements are initially coupled.
 8. The connection of claim 6, wherein the safety portion is provided with a surface adapted to abut a portion of said male element for a transmission of a force of displacement of said safety portion from the first toward the second position thereof.
 9. The connection of claim 1, wherein said at least one ball element is movably mounted on said second part.
 10. The connection of claim 9, wherein said second part is a ring provided with a bore traversing it radially and in which said at least one ball element is mounted, said at least one ball element being able to be blocked by projecting radially in the central opening of said ring or be driven radially outside said opening, as a function of the position of said second part with respect to said first part.
 11. The connection of claim 1, wherein said second part is in one piece with said safety portion.
 12. A process of uncoupling male and female elements of a quick connection previously fitted in each other and retained in coupled configuration by the cooperation of a groove and at least one ball element formed respectively on the male element and in a wall of an opening in a lock mounted to slide in the body of the female element and in which the male element is seated, and the lock being accessible from outside the body of the female element and being blocked from movement into the body of the female element when the male and female elements are coupled with one another by a blocking member, the process comprising: exerting a force urging the male and female elements toward each other which force is directed against the blocking member so that the blocking member is urged, against an elastic force, to a position so as not to block movement of the lock within the body of the female element; exerting on a part of the lock accessible from outside the body, an effort of penetration forcing the lock into the body of the female element; and thereafter withdrawing the male element from the female element by a movement in a direction opposite a direction of fit of the male element and the female element. 